I was going through one of the recent release of the apex statistics body in Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and I got taken back by some of the facts given on unemployment in Nigeria.
According to NBS, Nigeria’s unemployment level rose from 14.2 per cent to 18.9 per cent in 2017. At the same time, the labour population increased from 83.9 million in the second quarter to 85.1 million in the third quarter of 2017, a difference of 1.2 million. NBS also reported that the total number of people in full-time employment declined from 52.7 million in the second quarter 2017 to 51.1 million in third quarter.
At the same time, unemployment increased from 16.2 per cent in the second quarter 2017 to 18.8 per cent in the third quarter 2017. The number of people within the labour force who were in unemployment also increased from 13.6 million and 17.7 million respectively in the second quarter 2017 to 15.9 million and 18.0 million in the third quarter 2017 It stated that the combined total unemployment and underemployment increased from 37.2 per cent in the previous quarter to 40.0 per cent in the third quarter. During the third quarter of 2017, the report said that 21.2 per cent of women within the labour force aged 15-64 were unemployed compared with 16.5 per cent of men.
I actually want to know people’s reactions on this. How do we reconcile this with some of the claims of the present day government in Nigeria on how well it has been handling youth engagement, employment etc.? Please I need your opinion and reactions. Let’s discuss. Who knows? Our future may be reshaped by our discussions of today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
